IX.

Gaily was the knight attired.

Wel gay watȝ þis gome gered in grene,

& þe here of his hed of his hors swete;

Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;

A much berd as¹ a busk ouer his brest henges,

Þat wyth his hiȝlich here, þat of his hed reches,

Watȝ euesed al vmbe-torne, a-bof his elbowes,

Þat half his armes þer vnder were halched in þe wyse

Of a kyngeȝ capados, þat closes his swyre.

Þe mane of þat mayn hors much to hit lyke,

Wel cresped & cemmed wyth knottes ful mony,

Folden in wyth fildore aboute þe fayre grene,

Ay a herle of þe here, an oþer of golde;

Þe tayl & his toppyng twynnen of a sute,

& bounden boþe wyth a bande of a bryȝt grene,

Dubbed wyth ful dere stoneȝ, as þe dok lasted,

Syþen þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte,

Þer mony belleȝ ful bryȝt of brende golde rungen.

Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke þat hym rydes,

Watȝ neuer sene in þat sale wyth syȝt er þat tyme,

with yȝe;

He loked as layt so lyȝt,

So sayd al þat hym syȝe,

Hit semed as no mon myȝt,

Vnder his dyntteȝ dryȝe.

¹ as as, in MS.